BEDWORTH'S biggest venue is having a record-breaking year after latest figures showed ticket sales had gone through the roof....

BEDWORTH'S biggest venue is having a record-breaking year after latest figures showed ticket sales had gone through the roof.

Takings for the year 2000 to 2001 were 54 per cent up on the previous year and manager Peter Ireson expects figures to be even better by the end of this year.

He believes the success is down to more shows being put on, including acts the Civic Hall audiences wouldn't normally see, like cult comedians Jerry Sadowitz and Bill Bailey. Both perform there later this month.

Re-formed chart-topping boy band 911 are also scheduled to play at the beginning of next month.

Mr Ireson said: "The box office is going through the roof. It's busier than it has ever been in my memory.

"Takings for 1999 to 2000 were #228,000. Last year that went up to #353,000, an extra #124,000.

"I'm expecting that to go up by another 20 per cent this year.

"I think it's partly because we're putting on more shows and partly because we're putting on bigger shows."

He said tickets for Bill Bailey on Wednesday were selling well, as were the 911 tickets, with 400 already sold almost a month before the performance.

More traditional Civic Hall shows like The Fureys on October 21 and Ready Steady-Dance, starring Wayne Sleep, are also doing well, although tickets for Jerry Sadowitz on October 23 are selling more slowly.

Mr Ireson said: "That may be because it's a bit of a departure from what we normally put on here. Audiences are probably more used to seeing acts like Jerry Sadowitz at Warwick Arts Centre.

"Once they've seen an act like that here they'll get more used to it..

"With 911 a lot of people assumed that it must be a tribute. Many didn't even realise they'd split up, let alone re-formed.

"Fans are coming from all over the country, so it certainly won't be our usual audience."